Flame-stoking winds are set to ease soon in Los Angeles

The dry winds sweeping into Southern California from desert areas and fueling wildfires had eased Wednesday afternoon and were expected to change direction as soon as Thursday afternoon, the National Weather Service said, offering a potential reprieve to the region.

Even with the prospect that the Santa Ana winds would soon ebb, the Los Angeles area remained very much at risk Wednesday, with fire and wind warnings scheduled to last until at least the evening. But the weaker winds would be a welcome change to firefighters grappling with the Palisades and Eaton fires that together had consumed about 37,700 acres since last week.

The toll of the crisis, though, is still only starting to come into view. At least 25 people have died, and more than 100,000 others have been displaced. In Los Angeles County alone, more than 172,000 people remained under evacuation orders or warnings, according to Sheriff Robert Luna, who spoke at a news briefing Wednesday.

Cleanup crews were in a flurry of activity trying to restore access and services to neighborhoods where the fire had burned through, while firefighters continued to battle the flames and keep old fires from reigniting. As crews worked to contain the fires, law enforcement officials warned of severe punishment for crimes, price gouging or scams targeting fire victims.

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Containment updates: The Palisades fire, the largest in the area, has burned nearly 24,000 acres and was 19 per cent contained Wednesday morning, according to Cal Fire. The Eaton fire covered more than 14,000 acres and was 45 per cent contained. The Auto fire, which grew to more than 60 acres in Ventura County, northwest of Los Angeles, was 50 per cent contained. Emergency officials quickly quelled a 34-acre vegetation fire Wednesday afternoon in San Bernardino County; no one was hurt, and no structures were destroyed.

Forecast: Forecasters predicted mountain areas could see gusts of up to 40 mph and coasts and valleys could see gusts of up to 25 mph in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, before rapidly lowering by Thursday afternoon. Although the lower winds were likely to make it easier for firefighters to gain control of the blazes, forecasters have warned of another possible windstorm early next week.

Housing woes: Among the longer-term fears is that the destruction of thousands of homes has made the city's dire housing shortage worse. On Tuesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom of California and members of the Los Angeles City Council took preliminary steps to prevent property speculation, evictions and large rent increases.

Health risk: A health advisory for windblown ash and dust -- which can be too large to register on air quality monitoring devices -- was in effect until Wednesday evening.